Method of and means for the transmission and reproduction of optical and acoustical effects



0ct.l9, 1948. E. HOPKiNS 2,451,734

' METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL I AND ACOUSTICAL EFFECTS Original Filed Jan. 26, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 z g i .4; Fi .5

. 'lni lentorf I Fig.5.

F 0J 1948. E. HOPKINS 2,451,734

' METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL AND ACOUSTICAL EFFECTS Original Filed Jan. 26, 1922 w 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Oct. 19, 1948. HOPKINS 2,451,734 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL AND ACOUSTICAL EFFECTS' Qriginal Filed Jan. 26, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3,

Oct. 19, 1948. HOPKINS 2,451,734 T METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL AND ACOUSTICAL EFFECTS Original Filed Jan. 26, 1922 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /6/ /57 we I63 ma N /5a we m5 /6'7 A34A Mm y} Fi g. 16.-

Oct. 19, 1948. E. HOPKINS 2,451,734

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND REPRODUCTION OF OPTICAL AND ACOUSTICAL EFFECTS- Original Filed Jan. 26, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Flgl Patented Oct. 19,1948

"UNITED" STATES OFFICE 2,451,7ai fl- 1 Manatee AND m nsion THE TRES MISSION. AND, REPRODUCTION OF or'r GAHAND ACOUSTICAL EFFECTS Edwin fiopkins, New York, N; Y. original application January '26, 1922, Serial No. 531390, nowJPfatent Nb. 2,056967; 'ctoherI3,

1941, Serial No. 395,264

It is to be noted that this is a divisional'application of anapplication for patent bythe "same inventor and under the same title, filed October 9, .1936, SerialNumber 104,818, once pending, which in turn is a divisional application of an application for patentby thersame inventor, filed January" 26, 1922, Serial Number 531,990, from which" issued to the sa'me' inventor Patent No. 2,056,967, dated October. 13., 1936, under the title of Photo-electric thermionic cell," and thus the present application is entitled to the filing date of January 26, 1922'forpurposes-of referenceand otherwise. I

'I'hemain purpose'oi' my invention is to transmit talking motion pictures by wireless or by The main principle of my invention is to pro -I vide' a plurality of cellsxelectrically sensitive to changesof light, suchasphoto-electric cells, so placed as to cover a bank receiving light. images, each cell receiving simultaneously a portion of the optical image. Each cell is thenconnected to a segment of 'a circular, stationary 'commutator. A;brush rotatesv at a high rate of speed around-the commutator and picks: up 'successively impulses of current from each cell; the strength of the impulses'depending-z on-the. intensityof the light falling 011213118 cell, The brush may rotate sixteen times persecond. and: thus pickup sixteen: impulses 'persecond from each cell. the cellsare apart in abankten by twelve feet, there will-be 320' vertical rows; and 384 horizontal rows of cells, a total of; 122,880 cells in the bank. At sixteen-revolutions per second the, travelling brush would deliver 1,966,080 impulses ofvarying: strength, some of zerovalue for" cells inv portions of the imagein shadow, per second, I v l v 7 These successivepulsations .are then amplified and transmitted by.-wirelessv yor-wired wireless means tor the, receivingystation where they are delivered to a similar Divided and thisa'pp'lication" May 26,

travelling brush which transmits them to the individual segments of a stationary commutator, each of which is connected to an incandescent lamp, the location of which, in a' ban'k of lamps, is analogous to the location of the cell: in the cell bank in the sending 'stationfrom which it derives its impulses, each lamp receiving sixteen impulses per second. Thus the'la'mp bank reproduces the light image directed upon thecell bank. A supplementary circuit'keeps. the brush motors in synchronism. Simultaneously acoustical effects. are transmitted and reproduced in. a manner to be described. Sincethe optical and acoustical effects are produced simultaneously, they will be reproduced simultaneously and in synchronism, so that it is only necessary to' keep the motors rotating the brushes; in synchronisnr to produce the effect of talking" motion pictures. If the motors get out or "synchron'ism a distortion of the image willre'sultl.

To prevent such distortion in practice it is desirable; to'providea stationary commutator for each of the horizontal rows of cells, there being thus;320 commutators andfl320 traveling brushes. The 320-"circuits may bet-ransmittedby the meth-- od off band'f'requencies as practi'cedin multiplex telephony; more'than'one pair of conductors be ing used. Band frequencies to the number of 32 are ordinarily used: in'telegraphy, but a much larger number is possible so that a few circuits, or'even' one might suflicel In wireless transmission different wave lengths wouldbe used. With 320 commutatorseach wide, having 384' segments. thick, an apparatus ten or twelve feet longand' a yard in diameter would serve to con-' ver't the impulses from the bank to the transmitting-wires. No distortion of the image would occur the motor. were out of synchronism in suchieve'nt as the image would merely float across the screen bank like a moving picture beingframed, remaining steady when 'synchronism between the" motors were obtained, I

Where an actual'scene is to be transmitted afurther'important feature ofmy invention consists of a large camera to be focussed on the scene, the cell bank taking the place of the customary photographic plate. Where a. motion picture is to be reproduced it may be thrown. upon an ordinary screen in the view of thecarnera, or else the camera may be entirely-removed and the motion picture thrown directly on the cell-bank as a screen.

A; variant form of my. invention: consists of a device in-the form of a paddle-wheel, each paddle bearing a row of cells which are swept across the optical image, one every sixteenth of a second, communicating with a similar whirling lampbank, each file of cells on the paddles having its own commutator and brush and circuit communicating with similar parts on the whirling lamp-bank. The cell passing through the image receives variations of light which are communicated to the lamp passing through the reproducing frame.

In carrying out my invention, I find it desirable to employ the following apparatus, methods, processes and manufactures, but it is to be understood that in carrying out the objects of my invention, less than all of the different methods, means, mechanisms, processes and manufactures herein described'may be employed, or other methods, means, mechanisms, processes and manufactures similar may be substituted, and while the preferred methods and the forms embodying my invention are shown, it is to be understood that many of the structural details may be varied and many changes in details resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention, nor do I limit myself to the particular methods, means, devices and processes shown, although I believe them especially suited to the ends to be attained by my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating a form of the invention, and forming a part hereof, the same reference letters and numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. 1

Sheet No. 1

Sheet No. 2-The consecutive distributor Fig. .6 is a side elevation partly in section, Fig. 7 is an end elevationpartly in section Fig- 8 is a plan, partly in section, Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a portion of the commutator, and Fig. 10 is a sectionaldetail ofa cable connector.

Sheet No. 3

I Fig. 11 is a sectional plan of a unit of the lamp bank on line B of Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the lamp-bank in position with leading in cable, the drawing taken at selected levels in lines C and D of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a sectional plan of a. unit .of the lamp bank with certain details omitted and others in skeleton. The upper left quarter is on line E, the upper right quarter on line F, the lower right quarter on line Gand the lower left quarter on line H of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a vertical cross section of the cross over, showing cable connections.

Fig. 15 is a diagram of cable connections of the cross-over.

Sheet No'. 4

Figs. 16 and 17 are diagrams of the electrical connections of the whole system of radio talkies, Fig. 16 being the sending station and Fig. 17 the reproducing station.

Sheet No.

Fig. 18 is a diagram of the electrical connections of the invention as applied to the reproduction minated sky sign.

Fig. 19 is a plan of a consecutive distributor showing the lay-out of the machine for commutators for each row of lamps grouped on six sets of commutators and brushes.

Fig. 20 is a side elevation and Fig. 21 a front elevation, with a portion in section, of the whirling bank for cells or lamps.

The cell camera I with lens 2 is focussed on the stage along sight lines 3 and 4. The front of the camera is supported by framework 5, with rollers E on tracks I for focussing.

Various other appurtenances of cameras may be included. The rear of the cell camera is fited with a bank of photo-electric cells at 8, the terminals of the leading-in wires being seen at 9. The leading-in wires pass to cross-overs, I0 and I I, and from there to the consecutive distributor I2, in this instance mounted below floor I3 on foundationflI L The stage .is. illuminated in the customary manner with footlights I5, side lights I6 and border lights 3I. Above the stage is placed ceiling I8 and a special photo-electric cell I9 which receives rays oflight from manometric flames 20, caused to vibrate in acoustical frequencies by the voices of the actors caught by horns '2 I. Mirrors 22 areso arranged that the distance traversed by the rays oflight' from each of the manometric flames to the photo-electric cell I9 is the same- Thus, if each manometric flame is of the same intensity, sounds of equal force will be equally transmitted fromeach horny Thus actors may walk about the stage and read their lines in the customary manner without the changes in volume in the transmitted tone which wouldoccur if they spoke at varying distances fromiacentral horn.

The light from the several manometric flames falling on a single photo-electric cell,'which accordingly varies the current which it transmits, enables the sounds from the several horns to be amalgamated electrically speaking without the distortion which takes place when sounds are collected from multiple horns each having its own microphone. The manometric flame as-a means of recording acoustical effects is very old in'the art, but the combination of a plurality of manometric fiames directed upon a single photo-electric cell, especiallyat-distances made equal by mirrors when the horns cannot be at equal distances, is'a novel and highly valuable feature of thisinvention. The manometric flames are pref erably hooded in order to transmit a maximum of light in the proper-direction, such'hoods containing suitable'reflect'ors. r a

The central light sensitive-cell ispreferably a photo-electric cell, but it maybe a selenium cell or a high-resistance cell, or any cell of a'substance by which variations in acousticale'ffects at the horns'may be transferred into electrical variations. 7 In frontof the stage is placed an additional group of horns 23, with-manometric flames 24 and mirrors 25 which reflect light to mirrors 26, thence to mirrors 21 from which the photoelectric cell I9 is reached bythe light. -I-Iorns 23 are out of the line of focus of the cell camera I, as indicated by the circle 28. Horns 23 and horns 2| may be used simultaneously, or either bank may be used separately. In case an audience views the performance, horns 23 could be dispensed with and the cell camera be made smaller. This i s-desirable asthe actors perform to better advantage before-an audience, and "its applause wouldbe transmitted and wouldenable the actorsziisr'rsi -t Y to time their lines to avoid readinginto the-applause ofldistan't hearers. I i. The cells of thecell bank 'c' e ptqzel e iq c. i u s s e i $1 .9 e er e gupe'ea to change light v in Variations may ic sed; A's't L to be utilized optically are far; s 1 v acoustical variations; it i'sQmo eej emmri in the cel l bank carn .7 acoustical translating device, A g ustmenycr 5'2 c'riies r een' bank caniera' maybe-e tic I I electric cells are, not ,usjed, but lessli el y tofb'e reliable. 1 I

HOrrisZI are shown iitended thro ih'l Y1 mg ur and masked y masking piecs fl't'l" bu a theatre the ceiling'lfl m ybemeruy I mg bridge, While the maskin piecesgrnay e1 de'r's; v Horns 24 aresupporte dbyframework erected'in the auditorium, but if an' 'au'dienic be played to, these horns could be 'disposfedfab'outfthe proscenium arch or near the side'lights" I {inside the proscenium or be dispensed with Microphones may be used'instead of manometric flames, Within my invention, t'heir ucurrent directly a gamated; or each microphone may bemused to produce light in an incandescent lamp and the light of such lamps amalgamated into a single 9? 9h q m" c .i current through a phtito electri'c cell. Additional 093?? nti th 9 W? horns may beplace'd back of the scenes if desired: 30 afl s pa e ye 1 f The. consecutive distrib utdr is 'shovtn' in Figs. h am ba k l. P 6 to 10 and a form of it in Fig/119. The'ccnseeu j iw p l tive distributor shown in Figs. 6' to l'flj is adapted 9f the, t fil i l r 1 acned the dark edge' wi to have four sets of stationary commutators and ch f v self'on thebanki' If four separate circuits. "O-n'iy onejmay be ii'sed, or 5 ufiandthe im be d and n he used s a idle, h i et eee..yi 'i'dbtie eltie or the consecutive distributor may be constructed j mp 1 ?u f9 i? gwQlfbeein'toappe r for a greater number of circuits as indicated m on the other edge b row Q m as theca'se niaybeiwith' agein -bane etween-them; Electric motor 3| is mountedon base32, de so im image may 1 entirely 3 ,5 v' j riving its power from any suitabie source. its fiaash i s r d m'r e y until 9 control shaft 33 runs in bearings 34,"3 5fsupported m is e "q l ei e' h mn s incolumns 36, 31. Shaft sa'carries bot/1e -38; 3s; e-- L" i m 'mm h which rotate With the shaft; Insom'e cases'on e q fi q w h Q di r 6 b bowl may be an idler to be rotated manually. 4b EP Qm 53? Mofidrimrotaifisshfi These bowls may merely be arm d g y 31 s 258runi'iii1gjinbearings B, 26B; 261; 26;; 263, brushes; but less air resistance is created by the 25 r i n' y t w r sh w a bowls and they may be better balanced-r65; high 21 2 1 m l rings a speeds and run with less noise. Bearing Swearna' ybrlis' "t efor'eit 211;; ,1 riescom mutator rings' lil, 4|; and'bearin'g 3' 5 car 11276 I I fjitjbedesn'ed to transmittti fcircuits ries commutator fing gflzj 43, ing e imbarid freqiiencies'; of onebandfrequency and Fig. 19.

of adjustment, one screw being loos'ene'daii the i 'rinewdum'have 320 se ment If t e other tightened to effect the mm tfde g'r'ee o d" segments e /47 wide-end /4" thicliiaehset r justme'nt required to keep theni'in-line orto keep q mmei' p si 99 v .5 R f W a 1: 1? F in line the moment of contact of the brushesif f fw h w l i 'g g Th3 fl r the latter cannot be perfectly adjusted." dj rmiatkth'e P E S' p r Brushes 45 4B bear on commfitatfii-fifigg' 1', "($0 haste-He 'ddfie SZW"th'bverbbmifigbf friction; and brushes 4'1, as bear eh rihge 42; its; These Where er w are tr i fi trayeling brushes" are carried" on the Tammie 13 3 6 f m u d flq "q i "bowls; Current passes fror'n'brushes 45; 4 6to'coi- .31: ew f mem frEEmiiFIgv 16f effiiiitiofi'fiicture 1ectorrin'gs49, 5e and n-om rush s41jfi to col- 1 9 5 a lector rings 5! 52 mounted on thehlib's of the 'the inchga bowls, from which'it passes to stationary "51in "e er Woiildbe as 53, 54, 55 on pillars 5B, 5 1. Necessary d intent of the brushes is provided fbr," pe' r se6of1d several electric currents are properly ins at d. in the larr p The stationary commutator ringsconsi'st 58", spokes 53, rims'6fl andjwebslffl sm tms be'ddedthe'segme .bers during evacuation.

The lamp bank and cell bank are similar in construction so that only the substitution of cell elements for lamp elements is needed to utilize the structure for cell bank purposes. The lamp bank consists of a foundation slabI I, standing in a vertical position with any convenient method of support. The foundation slab has a series of equidistant, circular apertures, each adapted to receive a lamp unit, the apertures being in rows horizontally and vertically. These apertures are designed to hold lamp units. A lamp unit is a lamp with a plurality of individual elements. Thus the lamp unit with a plurality of individual elements illustrated has thirty-six chambers, each containing a light element, and thus taking the place of 36 individual lamps. may be used within the invention, but lamp units as indicated, reduce the expense of manufacture and particularly the trouble of mounting and handling. The lamp unit is constructed of a moulded base block I02 with 36 chambers each containing an incandescent filament, having a common terminal I03 and individual terminals I04, which pass througha moulded backing block I05. An outer glass-cover bowl I is slipped on over the block I02, and an inner glass cover bowl H0 is slipped on over block I05, the leading in wires being sealed inthrough the glass of the inner cover bowl. The cover bowls are then sealed at the edge I01 and the structure is then evacuated in the customary manner at I08. Cable receptacle I09 is put in position, having segments IIO with feet III, each of which connects to a leading in wire of one of the incandescent chambers. Cylinder H2 is cemented in place with cement I I3. I The insulation I I4 of the receptacle is threaded at H5 and washer nut II6 serves to hold the lamp unit firmly in position on the foundation slab, which is arranged to provide a common electrical terminal for all the lamp, units. Cable II! is composed of thirty-sixwires each attached to a segment of .cable plug I I8. Washer ring H9 is externally threaded and screws into threads in insulation II4 of the receptacle, and thus holds the cable plug firmly in position. Adjoining lamp units are of the same construction and the distance between the incandescent chambers of, neighboring chambers of adjoining units is the same as the distances in the unit itself, so that the whole bank is covered with incandescent points all equally distant-from their neighbors. The distance shown is or 576 incandescent chambers per square foot in sixteen lamp units. At centers there would be 1024 per square foot in something over 28 lamp units. The smaller the chambers are made the finer will be the motion picture when viewed from a near distance, but it the lamp bank be made of large size with large individual lamps or chambers it may be viewed from a great distance and have the same relative clarity.

The outer cover bowl I06 is shown with various configurations of surfaces before the incandescent chambers, merely by way of-illustration, as I.2I, I22, I23, I24, I25 and I26, having the effect of lenses of different characters, from which may converge or diverge the rays of light for various uses. Or the glass before the incandescent chambers may be fiat. Channels I21 enable air to be withdrawn from the various incandescent cham- When used as a cell bank the chambers may be lined with a photo-electric element and a control rod be arranged to serve as the anode or vice versa. The center rod may support the photo-electric Individual lamps element, or the chambers may contain selenium or, other substance whose electrical conductivity varies with the changes in light intensity to which they are subjected.

For the cell bank which is less exposed than the lamp bank and less liable to wear and tear, individual cell elements may be employed, instead of cell elements in units of thirty-six, in which case the surfacecould be more completely covered, that is with less space between the chambers. For moving pictures to be viewed at great distances the lamp bank may be very large and individual incandescent lamps of ordinary sizes used.

The cross-over is a means of connecting the commutator segment cables with the cell bank and lamp bank cables, especially when a lamp unit system is used. The cross-over consists of two foundation slabs I28, I29 connected by cross bars I30, and otherwise as may be convenient. Cable plug receptacle I3I is fitted into the slab I28 and has the same number of segments as cable plug I32. of cable I33 which fits into it, thirty-six in the example shown. Washer nut I34 holds cable plug I32 in the receptacle. On the inside of the cross-over every six of the segments of the receptacle are connected to a minor or secondary receptacle facing the other Way, I35, having six segments and being adapted to receive minor cable plug I36 of minor cable IN. The opposite side of the cross over is similarly constructed, with leading-out minor cable I33 and leading-out major cable I39 with thirty-six segments and wires.

The connections are shown in the diagram, Fig. 15. Leading-in cable I33 from a stationary commutator has its first six segments connected to a minor receptacle I35. Minor cable I40 leads to a min-or leading-out cable receptacle I42 which is connected to six segments of the receptacle I4I of major leading-out cable I39 leading to a lamp unit. The six segments shown at I43 connected to I42 lead to the first upper horizontal row of six incandescent chambers of the lamp unit. Thus each of such six incandescent chambers is illuminated in succession as the traveling brush on the commutator advances past segment-s connected to I35. The next six segments encountered by the traveling brush are connected to minor receptacle I44 and by minor cable I45 to minor receptacle I46, and by means of leading-out cable I4! to a lamp unit adjoining the first lamp unit. Thus the upper horizontal row of lamps of the adjoining unit are illuminated in turn. Continuing all the thirty-six segments of 33 are in turn connected to the upper row of succeeding lamp units. Assuming that the lamp bank is but six lamp units wide, the next section of the stationary commutator is connected to receptacle I48 and the first six segments to minor receptacle I49, leading by minor cable I50 to minor receptacle I5I, which leads by way of cable I33 to the second horizontal row of lamp units. The brush next reaches segments connected to minor receptacle I52 leading by minor cable I53 to minor receptacle I54 which illuminates the second horizontal row of the second lamp unit, and so on.

Other arrangements are possible, as in Fig. 13 the upper row if illuminated from right to left is followed by the second row of the same lamp unit from left to right. This is accomplished in the lamp unit itself by the leading wires from the various chambers to the segment plugs. Where individual lamps are used the cross-overs may be simplified or omitted or incorporated with the rear of the cell bank and lamp bank, and the necessary cross nriatchinglof Wires.w carried out in. the connectionsof the strands of. theoable itself i toselected plug segments n H Owing to the fact that the incandescent filamentsare required to change rapidly in illuminating power, and 'that the photo-electricjcell Of n gives-off more power when filled. with certain gases instead of being entirely evacuated, as hard lamps or hard cells, the chambers: maybe-first evacuated, arid then filledllwith the selected gasesi both asregards lamps andzcells; v

A: form of electrical organization for'thewholef system, of transmission and reproductionof talking motion pictures is shown inFigsflfi'and 1? (Sheet 4.)

Figs. 16. is a diagram hr the connections of the:

initial or sending station and Fig. 1'7 or the'terrri'inal orireprodu'cing end or station; The diagrams illustrate the conditions when two commutator rings are used in. the sending andftwo in the-.re=- producingstation, from i which the conditions for the use of one ring or a greaterfnumberflthan two may be readily'se'en;

Photo electric' "cell bank electric cells I561,withYcathodei'elerhents I51. and

anodes I 58jnegat ive electrons carrying, 'current' from. cathode to anode in the presence of. light falling on the particular cell as indicated hyper,-

rowheads jenclosinjg' dots. Should nolight fall .on

a cell the current ,will not new: The"ielectronj current passes through battery I59, through am plifier I60; which may be, inftheufor'm 'o'f audion. tubes or othenco'nyeriient, form "of 'currentamplification, and. by lead I-G-I': to-b'anfd, frequency filter-system I'Ii2, from 'which it p ses to. the distant reproducing station orfstations. Return? ing -thro'ugl'i the band filter it, passes by l'ead I63 back through the amplifiers tofbrush m I65, travelling brush I65; commutato m and lead IBBtOCrOSS-OV BI I69Qand17hefie to v wl ments I61, I10, I11 and completes a'similarcir cuit for'each cell, successivelythrough leads I61;

I53 Atthe same time rotary brush I; effects similar connections'ior the photo-electri ell elee mems connected to its commutator segments through leads n6," m t the bandfilterlfil.

Band filters are well known in the guided wavei or-Wired Wireless telephone transmission art, lthef band-filter enabling. a plurality of circuits. to be 7 scntover'a single set of conductors? Iii thi's jin,-:

stance a three wire;system'sisiproiridedgbut aipairl ot=conductors may-be used; or a. plurality'of sets of conductors; LeadsfI'I2, I'I 3 andfI'IIIQare hown leading from the-band filteratrthe sending st 'ion and becoming I61, I13! and I14 at the-repro ducing station; insteadof a land- 1 wire trans-i mission, wireless transmission may heemploy d Motor I'IB, operates: the travelingbru shes, I165; other I15, deriving, its current fr'om mainsfli'l convenient sources. In ordertomaihtain the motor at the reproducing station in synchronism a three wire system with -leads IBIL WIBI and I82. isprovided, also passing though thelojarid filter; At I8;3.is placed a transformer to render the; current suitable for transmission,'

15.5 'cphtaihgl rhino band filter IfiZ a'nd are delivered. to band filter. for the incoming? impulses I93, from which the,

'v 40 cathode l5! completing the circuit The r tate ing brush I66 successively contacts with the seggj transformer.

Manometric flames I 84influencephotoelectric cell through; leads I86, I81, to the bandI filt-er, where it is; transmitted on one of the bands; the details of thebattery of the, circuit beinfglomitted, plementary microphone ,II BB- isv parallelfor n m ne l n arr w e membe cii t are f t d it o de se s-c it-ti ed ndu t;

I85, which transmits voice ,frequencies.

ance v I,9,0, I;9;I toefilter out the natural harmonics oilthe'diaphragrns of the manometric flames andj the ;microphone, though these filters are not es sential.

Shunted across all the leads are connectors to,

a recording; apparatus I92 with separate, recording means for each of. the circuits, as will be later des.cribed, but the preparation. of such records is not essential; though if itbe notxdesirable to have the scene transmitted at the time it is recorded,.

orin the case'of a scenewhich' will not later be reeenactem the records may" be made. and later be utilizedf for transmitting either from. the original initials sending station, or they may be. shippedxtothereproducing'station and reproduced;

there. Any form of record may be employed by which. electrical variations are utilized to, make a'permanent, record, but] the record of, the, con,- secutivel'y delivered impulses taken-from afgroup' of. cells in a; cell ban-kreceiving simultaneously portions ofjan image-is new in the art in what,- ever formtherecord takes, as is also an acoustical record. madeQby, the. amalgamation of a plurality ofzmanonietric flame effects.

Eigl'l is, a .,diagram. of, the terminal or reproducing'stationl Impulses frofm'leads. I6'I-'.I 63 IId-I'Ii'l, I-8J6.-I 8 I and I BEI-rIBi-IBZ, passthrough respective currents pass to leads I,6I 'I,6,3,.', I 'I6,',

l fit bedesired to reproduce by means of records, the "band filter may be cut outand the-records put through the reproducerl 9'4, and theimpul'ses recorded bycthe, recorder, I92 will be reproduced,

An; impulse oi current on IBM-I63! reaches. brushl2ll5 passes. to bowl ZIlISQthehce to travelin brush 2,0,0 andto segmentzlll, then by -lead 20,1 to

crossover 2.03 andto incandescent filament 209 of lamp bfank [2,I 0., the current passing back bycommon lead"'2II t'o IGI". I6I"I 63,.'- would .be too weak to cause-filament 2M. to illuminate, a source of electric current iromthernains ZI2 is provided, with power modulator2,l3,of any convenient typ'e. Thus the cur rentwhich lights. the. lamp bank is locally derived butiis modulated and controlled. by the currentl'from the sending station sent either by wireless'brbyj guided wave means in} the manner described; Across I,63,,'2I I is condenser 214 to Circuit I TB'II 'l'l similarly" prevent f sparking. ieedsrlam'ps onfthe're'maining portion oi the, nmpjm h 2I.5throug'h brush I96 and. its com-- miitator. These two-lampbanks are, of course;

fd1siniultarieously',' lamps 20,9 and- ZIB burning simu tanehusi if cell I56 and cell I56 receive light. simultaneously. Circuit las -181' carries.

acoustical, efGts.-- It passes through amplifier,

unit 2.I .'I."a;nd receiver 2I8 orany desired type, but especially oi a, loud speaking type." Filter ZIS isiQprQVided. to'filter out the characteristic not'efof thelreceiyer diaphragmhthough this is not essential." Scenes transmitted by wireless or"; guided; waves may be reproduced at a, plurality oireproducin'gstations by parallel. connections. I In -utilizing the irulen.tion fer purposes of out:

2.,v 203 Motor I.-9:5. is operated Since the current from" door display, such as sky signs; reproductions of actualsoenes or of moving pictures or sign matter of any kind may be eifected. The scene being enacted on the stage of a theatre may be shown on the theatres sky sign, or a movingpicture being shown in the theatre may be so reproduced on one or several sky signs. This may be accomplished by the use of the apparatus and connections shown, but a simpler method of operation may be used,,as indicated by Fig. 18. (Sheet 5.)

The consecutive distributor 220 accomplishes the purpose of both receiving and transmitting impulses, and functions as a union of the two machines which when separated must be kept in synchronism. Motor 22! is fed by mains 222. There are two bowls, 223 and 224 with traveling brushes 225 and 229, brush 225 contacting with segments 226, 221 and 228 and brush 229 contacting with segments 23B, 231' and 232, and stationary brushes 233 and 234 with corresponding collector rings. The cell bank 235 with cross-over 245 and cells 236, 23'! and 238 having cathodes 239, 240 and 24! and anodes 242, 243 and 244 is connected to the stationary commutator segmerits 226, 221 and 22B. Lamp bank 246 with cross-over 241 and lamps 248, 249 and 25!] is connected to the stationary commutator segments 23!), 23I and 232. Thus each cell in the cell bank is successively connected toits corresponding incandescent filament in the lamp bank on joining the terminals of stationary brushes 233,234

and if the photo-electric current were strong enough the lamp bank would be illuminated whenever light shines on the cell bank. As the photo-electric current from battery 252 is weak, however, amplifiers 25! .are insertedywith inductive coupling 253 to the incandescent circuit. As the current would still be insufiicient .a power modulator 254 of any desired type is inserted with inductive coupling to the incandescent circuit if desired, so that the current from mains 255, being modulated by the cell bank through coupling 253, the proper lamps burn at the proper moments. sparking. It is impossible for this device to get out of synchronism since the traveling brushes which traverse the two stationary commutators are mounted on the same shaft. In such an arrangement, however, it is desirable for the consecutive distributor to be near enough to the lamp bank and cell bankto be reached by short lengths of cables from the commutator seg mentsto the cross-overs, merely for reasons of economy. A good arrangement is to place the cell bank without'camera attachment in a small projecting room behind or below' the sky sign, and to project the moving picture directly on the cell bank. If the cell bank is of small units or small selenium cell units the moving picture may be made small and space he saved. With selenium units A1" center to center a. cell bank' 6 8" x 8' would be equal to a cell bank' 10' 0" x 12' 0" with center to center lamps. If the lamp bank consists of individual incandescent bulbs 3 inches center to center it would.

Condenser 258 is inserted to prevent pearsat the top edge 219.

. 12 cover may be placed over them and such cover may also tend to diffuse the light and produce a soft, lustrous picture, lacking the sharp outlines of the customary moving picture, being more of the nature of an impressionistic photograph;

If a group of theatres in New York be fitted with this invention connecting theatres in other cities could each reproduce any desired play from the New York group, a different one each night or repetitions of those most favored, without any expense whatever for making moving picture productions. The timeliness and addition of vocal effects should prove far superior to the customary silent picture which only reaches the audience months after the original production in New York is ofi and with a different cast of players.

A variant form of the bank which I term a whirling bank is illustrated in Fig. 20 and Fig. 21, (Sheet 5.) Fig. 20 is an end elevation and Fig. 21 is a front elevation as seen by the audience in the case of aiwhirling lamp bank. The principle of this mechanism is that a lamp sweeping through an arc and varying its power of illumination will reproduce optical effects, provided the speed be suitable and the'effect be repeated quickly enough to take advantage of persistence of vision.

A frame 211 is affixed to base 218 and has an aperture of the desired size of the moving picture. The top edge 219 and the bottom edge 28!) of this aperture are inthis instance far enough apart to enable the travelling'lamps carried on an arm of a selected length to be seen during 60 degrees of their rotation. Mounted on a central shaft 28l is the hub 282, carrying six arms 283, 284,285, 286, 281, 288 arranged in rows. Each row of arms carries a rank of lamps'289, 290, 29k 292,293, 294 in a single line. As soon as one rank or paddle of lamps passes below the edge 28!] oi the exposure aperture, the next row ap- If it takesq g of a second for a rank to pass through 60 degrees, a complete rotation will be made in V 6 of a second, a sp'eed of revolutions per minute of the central shaft. The persistence of vision is such that optic'al'efiects within 1% of a second of each other seem continuous. When not in the visible sector the lamps'arecut out. As the lamps pass through the visible sector of exposure aperture 219-288 their changes in illumination produce the optical effects desired; as one lamp may be out While thelamp in the'adjoining file may be lit or partially lit, and vice versa If the visible sector be divided into 320 imaginary parts, the Work of one lamp is equivalent to the work of 320 lamps in a vertical row of the lamp bank, as it changes 320 times in that distance if 320 variations are transmitted to'it from a stationary cell bank and consecutive distributor. To accomplish this, however, the lamp must be capable of changes at the rate of 5,120 per second, so that it is desirable to havethe lamp bulbs filled with a gas which'absorbs heat rapidly from the filament, such as hydrogen. It is also within the invention to place a ground glass or partially opaque screen before the visible sector so that while the lamp may not be extinguished, it will appear so when its brilliance falls below a certain'point. The ground glass may be part of the lamp bulb itself rather than a separate screen, if desired.

While the usefulness of the whirling bank islimited by the speed of the bulb changes, it is much more available for sending purposes, as when fitted with ranks of photo-electric or other light'sensitive cells it acts as a whirling cell bank.

Since the electrons of the photo-electric cell arearcane.

i u a rec ab ne t a ar-i fiens 5.9.

times s wn e tar Wi n h i iirnit n m deed they-may varymillions I of .tiinesper second- When thewhirling cell bankisfitted with. com;

mutators 295, one for each-six cells ona file ,of cells on six-paddles, there will bethe same number of -s egments abreast a commutator as there are cells abreast on one rank or paddle-of cells. These sfi mentstake the place of thesending consecutive distributor and jmay each be divided into 320divisions, thus providing 320 impulses foreach.

traversing of the visible sector by a cell, equivalent toa vertical row of chambers or cells on-a 320 rowcell bank, or 320 lampson a lampbank It is not necessary, however, to .make such division of segments since if current from the undivided segment of a cell of a whirling;cell bankfbetrans-? mitted to a stationarylamp bank, the consecutive distributor at the reproducing station willdivide it properly among the successive lamps, provided the motor of the cell-bank and the lamp bank arekeptin synchronism, and provided o f course, that.

the ranks of the lampbank are arranged vertia cally or the files .of the cell bank horizontally, as

the whirling bankjineither form may be adapted to have its shaftrotate horizontally or vertically, and if the lamp .banks are to be illuminatedin turn horizontally by rows or ranks of cells, the whirling cell bank shaft must be placed vertically to swing the file horizontally,

necessary, unless the numberoi band frequencies.

is to be'reduced below the number of ranks or files of circuits to be transmittedasthe casegmay be. The whirling lamp bank may have @longer arms and a greater number of paddles, in which case the visible sector would be p a e w c s d sira le A motor 296 rotates the whirling bank, shaft 28! being carried on the motor bearings and on bearing 291. Brush-es 298' are carried on holder 299 carried by pillar 300-.

ground glass is not used one of plain glass is desirable in order to keep out dust, and if used out of doors, rain and snow. If a large number of files of lamps are used, intermediate bearings may be provided for the commutator shaft. When not used in circumstances requiring rapid changes of filament illumination, as in the reproduction of motion pictures, but where the rotation may be slower and the lamp changes slow, as in lettering efiects changes in sky signs, a much better effect than is customary with such signs may be pro duced without any difiiculty as to the rapidity of the changes of the illumination. In such cases a single paddle wheel may be suflicient, or two at most, which permits one set of paddles to be used in close proximity to another, so that a large The whirling cell bank may besubjectecl-to, optical effects directly or may be fitted with camera lens attachment similar to the stationary more nearly. 1a"v The entire apparatus may be enclosed in a room and if a Screamer rmin l ese e- 1am m sef he Wh t .1... t acas 0 ys nwh it is @desired t re reduce a motion picture, the

shines. betweenfthemand alongside of the lamp rank on eachpaddle may .beplaced a cell rank. The moving picture maythen becase on the .de-

vice rom-,-the rear and ltfhef cellcurrents amplified viaz the commutatornand amplifiers and power modulator a-nd illuminate simultaneously therankrof lamps in .a visible sector, Or the cell paddles may, be iplace d on one end of. the 'main shaftandbeof.smallendimensions. a 7

Color efiectsfmay be obtained" in the lamp bank .byplacing color screens before the cell elements. f'Adjoining. cells may. be screened in various colorslsucnas red, green and blue and the correspondingfl lamps similarly screened, reproducing variousnatural colors vThe screen. may

be' placed before.the -bank .or be .part ,of the evacuated envelope,

Eor some uses .b a photo -electrijc element and incandescent filament element may be placed-in the same lamp. r chamber. By screen-. "ing :the PhOtO7E1GQl'glfiC element from the rays of light of the incandescentlamp the .bank' may beusedboth for sending.andreproducingwhen the circ are distributors and commutators are properly arranged; therefor.

,I n, ac usticalrecording a plurality of microphones .may bra-placed about thestage and each circuit used; to varythe lightoi an incandescent or otlher light, the-rays of al'le thelamps being directed 01 la plictorelectric cell, which amalgamates: them 'Ii O a; single circuit 9 t al variations, To. compensate for differences in tonefstrength due to varying distances of the In"rophone,;from;the,centerof the stage, re-

sistances maybe introduced in} each microphonelamp oircu'it ,,or else jthe,lampsmay be placed at varying distances- ,from ,the photorelectric cell. Or the'cell may be omitted and the resistances inserted before amalgamating the microphone urrentsint as ng ea rr t- 1 -It is'to be noted.in the ciaimathat. in referring lampnnits. and the lights or image of bank} {or whirling ,bank being 7 in, the r' orY jcorresp( inding, orcl'eras the cells of hesending bank,:or sending bank bfankesiich references include the necessary to prevent the image ms m ter-ti d on thea n ncamera is used at the sending bank.

The expression stage includes any platform or place used for enacting scenes, and is not limited to the stage of a theatre.

What I claim is:

1. A television apparatus with a transmitter, adapted to select an optical field from nature, comprising in a bank a plurality of individual photoelectric cells arranged in a selected order adapted to be simultaneously and continuously exposed to varying light images from such field of nature, means adapted to derive varying electrical impulses from such photoelectric cells in rapidly repeated cycles, cell by cell, such electrical variations corresponding to the varying intensities of light received by such cells from moment to moment from nature; an optical reproducer comprising a bank of electrical lamps corresponding to such photoelectric cells of the transmitter and arranged in a similar selected order, adapted to be illuminated in rapidly repeated cycles, lamp by lamp and cycle by cycle by such 15 electrical impulses from the cells of such transmitter, an electrical conducting line between such transmitter and reproducer, means comprising a rotary collector adapted to pick up from such cells, cell by cell, insuccessive cycles impulses of electric current supplied by such cells and to transmit such successive varying electric impulses to such reproducer, such reproducer fitted with a rotary distributor with means adapting it to be operated synchronously with such rotary collector, such rotary distributor adapted to deliver to such electric lamps of the reproducer in the same order within the cycles, and cycle by cycle such varying electrical impulses from the cells of the transmitter, such reproducer thereby adapted to display a light field varying in rapid sequential cycles, corresponding to such field of nature, such rotary collector and rotary distributor constituting a consecutive distributor of the class described comprising a motor for rotating brush bowls, a brush bowl on either side of such motor, adapted to carry two or more brushes, such bowls mounted on the motor shaft, collector rings for each bowl, one for each, of the travelling brushes carried by the bowl; a stationary brush for each collector ring; electrical connections between each collector ring and its travelling brush, a stationary commutator for each travelling brush, concentric with and within the bowl carrying its brush, each commutator bearing individual segments adapted to be successively put into electrical contact with its stationary brush through the rotation of its travelling brush, whereby to establish simultaneously series of successive electrical pulsations, one se ries for each commutator, and electrical means adapted to maintain the motor in synchronlsm with a secondary motor operating a consecutive distributor reversely connected electrically, and such secondary motor adapted to operate such consecutive distributor reversely connected electrically, whereby to reproduce the varying optical effects of the field of nature selected by the transmitter.

2. In apparatus for the transmission-and reproduction of optical effects, a whirling cell bank comprising a plurality of ranks of cells, the cells of any rank adjacent to each other, the. cells of succeeding ranks in file, such ranks mounted on a rotating member, at equal angular intervals, such cells adapted to produce electrical variations on being exposed to light variations; a

frame or aperture through which the ranks of cells are visible, one at a time, during a portion of each rotation, a commutator with a segment for each cell, in files circumferentially for files of cells, each file of commutator segments having a stationary brush, such commutator adapted to rotate with such rotating member; "a collector ring rotating with such member and having a stationary brush, such collector ring adapted to be a common terminal for all of the cells; a source of potential and circuit therefor so adapted as to provide a source of potential for each cell during its traversing of the aperture; an electrical motor adapted to rotate such rotating member, whereby to expose to light eiTects such ranks of cells during the passage of the aperture, said cells preferably photo-electric in nature, and in combination with the foregoing a similar organization but with electric lights in place of the cells, and communicating means whereby the light effects directed on the cell unit and transformed into electrical variation-s and re-translated from electrical variations to light illumination of the electric lights, whereby to reproduce the light effects received by the cell unit.

3. In an apparatus of the class described for the transmission and reproduction of optical effects a whirling cell bank as set forth in claim 2 adapted to rotate, and a motor for producing such rotation fitted with means for electrically maintaining synchronism in another motor adapted to operate means for reproducing optical effects from electrical variations originating in optical effects.

EDWDT HOPKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,512,361 Petersen Oct. 21, 1924 1,595,735 Schmierer Aug. 10, 1926 1,612,359 Chipman Dec. 28, 1926 1,728,978 Parker Sept. 24, 1929 Re. 17,712 Schmi'erer June 24, 1930- 1,776,097 Baird Sept. 16, 1930 1,907,124 Ruben May 2, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 191,405 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1917 

